Box Score

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland - The first contest in a critical three game series went the way of the Coppin State Eagles, as the baseball players from Baltimore defeated the host Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks by a score of 15-8 Friday afternoon.

Maryland Eastern Shore fell to 13-28 overall and 5-13 in the conference. Coppin State improved to 10-31 and 7-12 in the Mid-Eastern Athetic Conference (MEAC).

"Got to give credit to Coppin State." Hawks coach John O'Neil said after the game. "They played outplayed us and flat out beat us and earned game one of this series."

Junior Jordan Martin (Atlanta, Georgia) led the offense with a 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Senior Mike Escanilla (Waldorf, Maryland), junior Justin Somerville (New Windsor, Maryland) and freshman Tom Summers (West Decatur, Pennsylvania) collected two hits each.

Sophomore Chris Melrath (Rising Sun, Maryland) pitched six innings and struck out three but took the loss.

George Dragon led the Eagles with four RBI's and Nazier McIlwain went 4-for-6 on the afternoon. Kyrstian Negron pitched eight innings to earn the win for the Eagles.

Coppin State scored first with a run in the second and two runs in the third. The Hawks would respond with two in the bottom half of the inning from RBI's by Martin and senior Connor Breslin (Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania).

In the fourth, the Hawks would tie on a double from sophomore Jamison Trower (Chesterfield, Virginia). Somerville and Escanilla would then slap singles to drive in two more and to give the Hawks a 5-3 lead.

But Coppin State would retaliate with a four spot in the fifth and did not look back. The Eagles would score eight times in the last three innings to pull away.

The win gives the Eagles a game and a half lead over the Hawks. Maryland Eastern Shore will need to sweep doubleheader to control their destiny heading into the final weekend.

"Everyone knows what is at stake." O'Neil said. "We are looking forward to getting back out there for Senior Day."

Saturday's Senior Day festivities begin at 12:30 in the afternoon with first pitch scheduled for one. The teams will play a seven inning game followed by nine in the nightcap.